Victim changed by abuse; Barrie Center gives help

Thursday

Jane’s grandfather molested her for a year before she decided to tell someone. She confided in her school counselor.

FIFTH IN A SERIESEditor’s Note: Jane wanted to share her story, but her name is not being used to protect her identity.

Jane’s grandfather molested her for a year before she decided to tell someone. She confided in her school counselor. That started the ball rolling. Jane did not know her school counselor is required by law to report sex crimes to law enforcement.She soon found herself at the James M. Barrie Center for Children, opening up to tell what had happened to her.Jane isn’t her real name. Her name has been changed to protect her identity, but the 16-year-old’s experience is real.Jane told a forensic interviewer at the Barrie Center about her experience with her grandfather soon after the crime was discovered.She sat in a small room with the interviewer, while law enforcement officers, a prosecutor, case workers with the Department of Human Resources and others from the Barrie Center sat in a nearby room, watching on closed-circuit television.The interview also was recorded, so hopefully Jane will only have to tell the story once more — when the case goes to trial.In many ways, Jane was relieved to finally tell someone about the abuse, but she believes weekly counseling sessions have made a difference in learning to cope.“It helps that you have somebody to talk to,” she said.Jane says the abuse has changed her.“I have closed down a lot,” she said. “Now I am keeping people at bay and I don’t let myself get attached.”She thought it was her fault and that she had done something wrong to make her grandfather do bad things to her.Jane said some of her family members are supportive, but others do not talk to her anymore and blame her for telling.“I think I did the right thing,” she said, although she isn’t sure whether she initially would have told her school counselor if she had known the counselor would have to report the abuse.It’s still difficult for Jane to talk specifically about what her grandfather did, but she no longer feels guilty.She said counseling at the Barrie Center has made such a difference for her, but she knows she has a long way to go.“I’m getting better,” she said. “I’m like a piece of art. I’m still a work in progress.”Jane and her family had never heard of the Barrie Center before they had a need for its services.“I want more people to know what the Barrie Center is,” she said. “It has made a big difference for me.”A family member said she’d like to do everything she can to help Jane, but the teenager is going through something she simply can’t help her with.“This place has been a godsend,” she said. “I can’t help her with this because she needs help from a professional standpoint.”The family member said since Jane first talked to the interviewer and counselors at the Barrie Center, she goes weekly for counseling.There also have been instances where Jane was upset and went in for an unscheduled counseling session.“The fact that she knows they’re here to help her has made a difference for her,” the family member said. “I’m thankful they’ve been here for her and for me, especially in the very beginning.”She said the services provided at the Barrie Center are making a difference for Jane.“I never knew this place was here until we needed them,” she said. “And there are too many kids out there in need of these services.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.